Portland owner fined for criticizing referee on Twitter

NEW YORK (AP) Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson has been fined by Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber for criticizing referee Baldomero Toledo after a 3-2 loss to Orlando on April 8.

The league announced the fine Monday but did not disclose the amount.

Portland led 2-1 when Orlando was awarded a penalty kick after contact between Timbers defender Alvas Powell and Orlando forward Dom Dwyer. Sacha Kljestan converted the penalty kick in the 82nd minute, and Dwyer scored five minutes later. Toledo did not use the Video Assistant Referee to review the foul.

Paulson tweeted after the match: ”No way in a million years thats a penalty. Disgraceful. How do you not VAR that. Tried it once early but he got us in the end Joke.”